Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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42 of 47 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Lush, mesmerizing, sensual, brilliant.. you need this album., March 13, 2005
A fantastic yet overlooked treasure, a work brimming with texture but listenable to anyone's taste, Blackfield's self-titled debut is an amazing album that really deserves all the attention it can get. It's the project of Steven Wilson (the mastermind behind No-Man and Porcupine Tree) and Aviv Geffen, who's apparently had a successful if controversial pop career in Israel. Count one for the "can anyone tell me why this isn't huge" file. You need this album.
Wilson's singing is much more prominent, but AG handles half the writing/instrument duties, even if his voice is mostly the backing one. The sound is basically melancholy pop (for lack of an appropriate label), but wonderfully layered and textured and impeccably produced, topped off with gorgeous harmonies and writing a lot more thoughtful than you'd find in the pop world at large. And that's not to mention the writing in the melody department, which is almost otherworldly. There's a dreamlike quality to a lot of the album, from "Glow"'s soft bed of keyboards to "Lullaby"'s simple haunting piano line (which would almost actually make it a good lullaby if it wasn't done in a minor key with some very non-soothing lyrics). "Scars" shuffles along on a lively beat and shifts into a grand sweeping chorus, but it doesn't even seem out of place. Some heavy moments come and go but they never interfere with the lushness of the experience. The consistently depressing tone is really the only reason I haven't glued one of the CD trays on my stereo shut with this disc in it... yet.
Where Wilson on his own can take seven or eight or thirteen minutes to say something, Geffen's taste for brevity keeps everything here comfortably below five. Unfortunately that means the album itself tops off at around 43 including the 'new' bonus tracks, but there isn't a wasted second to be heard. "Where Is My Love?" was left off the original edition because they thought it didn't quite fit with the Blackfield sound - why they thought that, I can't imagine - and the mesmerizing "Perfect World" was apparently cut at the last minute. If you need this album (and you do), then you also need those tracks to complete the picture. Thankfully that mistake's been fixed by their inclusion here along with a live "Cloudy Now."
Did I mention you need this album? You do. Your life will forever be just a tad incomplete without it.
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16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Musical Genius, November 11, 2005
Is there a better title for a better album? I don't know. Since purchasing the original Jewel Case edition back when the CD was first released, I've been hooked on Blackfield and highly anticipate a follow-up CD. This summer, I purchased the digi-pack edition from a local music store and brought it home, only to have fallen in love with the album all over again. Blackfield's music is pure music genius, due to the mastermind himself, Steven Wilson. I've followed SW's music, since 1999 with the Porcupine Tree CD "Stupid Dream". Blackfield is made up of all the best components & aspects of every "PT" album. The melodies, arrangements & vocals are lush, smooth, rich and only SW can produce such a masterpiece. Aviv Geffen adds his own, unique style to the songs, but mainly as "Backup" because we all know SW's got the voice. I'm not big on AG's voice, only because I've seen him perform on a TV show in Tel Aviv (a video clip) He couldn't survive alone without SW's talents, although they make a splendid duo.
My favorite tracks are:
- "BLACKFILED", because of the fantastic piano intro and genius arrangements...as well as catchy, moody lyrics.
- "PAIN", because of AG's dark voice and accent & the catchy chorus line.
Packed with 13 brilliant & flowing tracks + the video for "Blackfield", the CD pumps out nothing but real music for any true music lover. As a fan of PT, No-Man and I.E.M, I couldn't pass up the purchase of this reissue. The chorus lines, dark & moody intros & subtle tones of some songs bring out every emotion, making it impossible for me to not play the entire CD. Even the bonus tracks are great too, and I like "WHERE IS MY LOVE?". AG's voice & accent stand out in the chorus when they sing the title phrase. Blackfield is definitely the soundtrack of a relaxing summer on a patio with a few beers & lots of friends & a good set of speakers. It's pure, feel good music, leaving me wanting more. I've already recorded the CD to my MiniDisc and it's on my computer as well. My friends were so pleased when they heard this music, they wanted copies of it for themselves.
Esthetically, this re-issue is 100 times better than the original and that's why I stand by my recommendation 100%. The only problem with this item is its vulnerablity to damage & wear. I suggest you put it in a protective plastic sleeve (found in many used CD shops). There's really no difference in the sound quality between the original and this one. The only thing I found strange is the 30 seconds between the original album sequence & the bonus songs. The packaging is beautiful and is much different from the Jewel case edition. Thanks, KOCH Records! These are some, if not most of the physical changes you'll notice:
- Gatefold digipack is glossy & contains different images or graphics
- Outer right flap features an image of a guy holding a bottle of Codeine with an image of a crying baby as the label
- Booklet (with lyrics) features alternative printing & graphics
- Front cover of booklet features the image of Codeine bottle with crying baby as label
- Original edition's booklet has Codeine bottle with "BLACKFIELD" printed across the label...minus the crying baby
- Inside cover of re-issue booklet features bottle of Codeine
- Inner rear cover of re-issue booklet features smaller-print credits & info
- Rear of booklet features tracklist
- Booklet fits inside front flap of package
- Color of CD is all black with grey title, compared to original brown disc with sienna lettering
- Inside right flap of package, there is a photo of SW & AV (originally found on rear of original booklet)
Tracklisting:
01- Open Mind - 3:19
02- Blackfiled - 4:06
03- Glow - 4:09
04- Scars - 3:57
05- Lullaby - 3:29
06- Pain - 3:17
07- Summer - 4:12
08- Cloudy Now - 3:34
09- The Hole in Me - 2:47
10- Hello - 3:09
BONUS TRACKS
11- Perfect World - 3:53
12- Where is My Love? - 3:01
13- Cloudy Now (Live) - 3:44
ENHANCED CD VIDEO - "Blackfield"
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Warm and fuzzy bleak-pop, March 2, 2006
Blackfield is a progressive rock/pop band whose blend of minor key melancholia and wall-of-sound euphoria works best as the soundtrack to late night lounging and contemplation. Maybe under blacklight.
With a lineup featuring Aviv Geffen (Israel's David Bowie), and members of Porcupine Tree including Steve Wilson, musician and producer extraordinaire, Blackfield's sound doesn't stray too far from the Porc Tree blueprint -- if anything, it's simply more streamlined and spacey, and perhaps a tad bit more or less accessible, depending on preference. Hard rock listeners might be put out at the album's stellar but soft-edged production, but the songwriting is sure to entice people from all walks of music-listening life.
The acoustics and pianos twinkle, the drums thump, the fuzztones are truly fuzzy -- where Porcupine Tree has been given to knock-down, raspy, in-your-face metal chunk right along with the shimmering prog-rock guitar (such as on "Blackest Eyes," the first cut from their "In Absentia" LP), Blackfield's instrumentation is much more pop-friendly. The guitars swirl together in the mix, distilling a fog of tones that recalls the shoegaze of yesteryear. But, Steve Wilson's knack for production insures that the vocal lines can just as easily melt into the mix while a repeated rhythmic motif takes center stage, such as on the outro to "Perfect World."
Contrary to the warm production, "Blackfield" works wonders as a chill-out record. Hardly anything else is as relaxing as curling up with an ice cold beverage of one's choosing and putting on highly-ornamented, sparkling, yet bleak pop such as this band can create. Recommended along with any Porcupine Tree record, especially "In Absentia" and "Deadwing."
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~ Steve Wilson
~ Porcupine Tree
~ Porcupine Tree
~ Porcupine Tree
~ Porcupine Tree
by Blackfield 
